Dele Alli returns to training as Mauricio Pochettino says anxious time could help Tottenham

September 21, 2018

Dele Alli returns to training as Mauricio Pochettino says anxious time could help Tottenham

relax

Spurs have suffered three defeats in a row but Pochettino says he is feeling relaxed

Tottenham hope to have Dele Alli back for Saturday’s game at Brighton but boss Mauricio Pochettino will take no risks.

Alli has returned to training after picking up a hamstring injury on international duty with England, which has kept him out of the last two games.

Alli has been out with a hamstring injury

In his absence, Spurs’ losing streak has extended to three games after losses to Liverpool and Inter Milan – the first time the club have suffered such a sequence under Pochettino.

There seems extra pressure on Saturday’s trip to the south coast, and Pochettino spoke of a slightly “anxious” state of mind within his squad, but that does not mean Alli will be rushed back.

“We need to wait until Friday to assess him, to see if he’ll be part of the squad,” Pochettino said.

Pochettino is under pressure after a poor run of results

“Thursday was a recovery day for everyone and it’s difficult to judge if he’s ready or not to play.

“We’re never going to put ourselves or our interests in front, taking risks with a player. It’s impossible.

“After four years you know very well we’re never going to put a player at risk because we want to win.

MATCH REPORT

Leigh Griffiths scores late winner off the bench to send Celtic Park wild

GUNNER GET YA

Aubameyang at the double in Emery’s first European game as Gunners boss

RANT

talkSPORT host labels Man City fans a ‘disgrace’ who are still in United’s shadow

MATCH REPORT

Kyle Lafferty the hero as Steven Gerrard’s men grab deserved point in Spain

WINNING START

Captain Willian gives Chelsea first Europa League victory in five years

FAMILIAR FOES

Celtic vs Rosenborg: TV channel, live stream, kick-off time and team news

PEP TALK NEEDED

Former Arsenal star slams Guardiola for Champions League defeat

TV TIMES

Arsenal v Vorskla Poltava: TV channel, live stream, kick-off time and team news

“We need to win and the most important thing is all the players who are going to be on the pitch, we need to feel they’re 100 per cent.”

Tottenham’s mini-slump has put Pochettino under early-season scrutiny and comes on the back of no summer signings and off-field problems, which include delays to their new stadium and club captain Hugo Lloris committing a recent drink-driving offence.

But Pochettino, who accused journalists of not respecting his players in the wake of the 2-1 loss at Inter Milan, says everything is fine in the camp.

Lloris remains injured

And he has urged his side to use the “pain” of their recent results to turn things around.

“I am so relaxed, I am so calm, because I know football,” he said.

“In the same time when you win you get a lot of praise that sometimes you don’t deserve. When you lose you must keep the balance and accept the criticism and that people are going to think differently and of course try to find the reason why we lose.

Spurs suffered their third consecutive defeat on Tuesday

“The group is OK. The group is of course a little bit anxious about winning games because it’s normal when you don’t win.

“The faces are different, and the atmosphere and the energy is different. That’s what happens.

“Sometimes it’s good to feel the pain, the defeat, not only the one, two but three.

“It’s so important to be clever and be strong. Football is like life, it’s impossible to keep 70 years of happiness.”